Studio couch frame



Feb. 13, 1934. C. H TURNER 1,946,822

STUDIO COUCH FRAME Filed June 17, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I N VEN TORTTORNE YJ Feb. 13, 1934. c. H. TURNER STUDIO COUGH FRAME 4 Sheets-Sheet2 Filed June 17, 1935 F I G. 4

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Feb. 13, 1934.

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E1n/umm Patented Feb. 13, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STUDIO COUCHFRAME land Application June 17, 1933. Serial No. 676,352

Claims.

This invention relates to studio couch beds generally and is directed tothat type known as extensible or slidable couch beds.

More particularly, it relates to the frame of that 5 type of bed orcouch which is constructed in two substantially coextensive sections andwhich may be telescoped one within the other and used for a sofa orcouch but which may be opened to form a double bed.

l0 Many constructions of extensible beds have been used. Usually theouter or upper frame member carries suitable supporting springs and apermanently fixed mattress in addition to a movable mattress whichlatter is adapted to be V removed from the fixed mattress and fitted inposition on the extensible portion of the frame and springs when thelatter are in the open or extended position. Couches of this type aresometimes separable into two distinct beds. The present invention isdirected especially to the mechanism by which the movable section of thecouch bed is moved to the open or closed position, i. e. extended orretracted. Previously to the present improvement actuating means haveincluded such as the following. In one form the movable mattress ismounted on'a frame constituting a lever pivoted on the fixed section andconnected to the movable section, so that lmovement of the uppermattress opens or closes the couch. In another arrangement there is ahand lever mounted adjacent the end of the couch, projecting upwardlyand adapted to be swung forwardly or rearwardly to open or close thecouch.

The primary object of this invention is to provide simplified andinconspicuous means for extending and telescoping the couch sections.

Another object is to provide automatic means for extending the couch andfor telescoping one section within the other.

Still another object is to provide mechanism for guiding the movablesection of the couch to maintain its proper course during movement.

A feature of the present invention is that it has a tiltable trackwaycarried by the stationary section of the couch which serves to causerelative movement of the couch sections.

One feature of advantage resides in apparatus in which sections whichare mechanically opened or closed also are quickly detachable to provideindependent sections.

Another advantageous feature of the invention is the easily accessiblemeans for tilting the trackway to cause relative movement of the couchsections.

Yet another feature of the invention is an automatically extensiblestudio couch which may be separated to form a pair of twin beds whendesired.

The above and further objects of the invention will be hereinafterapparent.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 illustrates a rear side elevation of the preferred form of thecouch, showing the connecting links between the operating mechanism atthe opposite ends of the couch;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged end view of the couch shown in Fig. 1, looking atthe right hand end in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 showing theend frames of the two 70 sections completely telescoped;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the two couch frames showing the movablesection partially telescoped within the stationary section substantiallyas ln Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the improved couch shown in Fig. 1; A

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the two sections showing a slightlymodified form of construction which is designed to facilitate theseparation of the two couch frames;

Fig. 'I is a front view of the slightly modified form of couchillustrated in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an end view of a still further modified form of the couch inwhich operating mechanism is provided at only oneend;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view showing the operating mechanism taken on theline 9-9 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view of the modified form of the couch of Fig. 4,taken on the line 10-10, showing the end which does not contain theoperating mechanism, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view of the modified form of couch shown in Figs.8, 9, and 10, taken on the line 11-11 of Fig. 4, looking in thedirection of the arrows; and

Fig. 12 shows a sectional View of the end of the couch of Fig. 11 withthe frame in completely extended position.

Like reference characters identify like parts throughout the drawings.

With more particular reference to the drawings, it is seen that thesubject matter of this invention comprises a pair of relatively movable105 couch frames adapted to be telescoped one within the other to form asingle or double bed as may be desired, as is well known in the art.

In the forms of the invention illustrated in the drawings, a stationaryframe 1 is provided having 110 an upper rectangular frame portion andprovided with suitable springs 1f* and legs 2 adapted to rest upon thefloor and maintain this section of the couch stationary. Slightlysmaller in size and adapted to telescope within the stationary couchsection 1 is provided a movable couch section 3, likewise havingsuitable springs 3a, and having legs 4 which have casters or rollers 5mounted at the lower ends of the legs to permit sliding of the movablesection across the floor. The legs may be of any suitable material butare illustrated as of angle iron. It is noted that the movable section,although substantially the same width as the stationary section, isslightly shorter so that it may slide in between the legs 2 ofA thestationary section. Extending between the legs 2 of the stationarysection at each end of the couch is a stationary trackway 6 which ispreferably formed of an angle member mounted horizontally between thelegs 2, and with one flat surface facing downward which also serves togenerally strengthen the couch frame. Extending vertically fromsubstantially the center of the fixed trackway 6 to the upper end framemember of the stationary section is a flat brace 7. A tiltable trackway8 is pivotally mounted on the brace 7 by any such means as the pivotbolt 9 passing through the brace 7 and the trackway 8 slightly abovefixed trackway 6. Thus the tiltable trackway 8 is permitted to moveabout its pivot 9 through an angular distance of between 20 and 30degrees as may be required, its movement being limited by its endscoming in contactwith the fixed trackway 6. It will be noted that themounting of the tiltable trackway 8 is such that its surface liesdirectly above the trackway 6.

In the preferred form of the invention shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, itis noted that each end of the stationary section of the couch frame isprovided with a similar` tiltable trackway similarly mounted. On therear of the side member of the stationary couch frame is mounted a pairof depending braces 10 each spaced from the end of the couch aboutone-fourth of the length of the couch. Pivotally mounted at the lowerend of each of the brace members 10 is a toggle bar l1 which has its endslotted and coupled to the end of the tiltable trackway 8 by reason ofthe latter fitting into the slot. These toggle bars 1l are pivotallyconnected together by means of a suitable pivot pin 12, the latterextending through a slot in one of the bars or otherwise havingsunicient freedom of movement to avoid binding.

Mounted adjacent the ends of the tiltable trackway is a pair ofactuating lugs 13 each having a laterally extending stepped portion 13?adapted to be engaged by the foot of the operator. In Fig.

1, it is seen that the operating lugs 13 are provided at each end of thecouch frame so that the tiltable trackways may be conveniently operatedfrom either end of the couch. However,

lugs at one end suilice to operate the couch satis- Atrackway 8 to whichit is attached will be tilted about its pivot 9 through the entiredistance of its movement until its end comes in contact with thestationary trackway 6. Movement of the trackway 8 thus effected willcause a corresponding movement of the toggle bar 11 coupled thereto.

lThe movement of the toggle bar 1 1 operating through the pivot pin 12will cause a corresponding movement of the other toggle member andconsequently an identical movement of the tiltable trackway 8 at theopposite end of the couch. Therefore, when the tiltable trackway 8 atone end of the couch is tilted the operation of the toggle members 11engaging the ends of the trackways and pivot-ally connected to eachother, will cause a simultaneous similar movement of 'the tiltabletrackway at the opposite end of the couch.

The rear legs 4 of the movable section of the couch are provided withslots 15 throughout a substantial portion of their length, the openingsof which face lengthwise of the couch. Mounted for slidable movementwithin each slot 15 is a pivot pin 15 which carries a freely rotatableroller 17 adapted for engagement with and to travel on the upper surfaceof the tiltable trackway 8., Mounted upon a fixed pivot at the lower endof the leg 4 directly beneath the roller 17 is a roller 18 adapted forrolling engagement with the under surface of the stationary trackway 6.Pivotally secured to and adjacent the lower end of the leg Il is afloating lever 1.9 which may, as shown in the drawings, have its endpivotally mounted upon the same pivot pin which carries the roller 18. Asecond floating lever 20 is pivotally mounted at a point somewhat pastthe mid section of the lever 19, as shown in Figs. 1 4, inclusive, andhas one end pivotally secured to the pivot pin 16 which carries theslidably mounted roller 17. The ends of the two floating levers 19 and20 extend some little distance beyond the point at which they arepivoted together and have mounted in the ends thereof a pair of links 21which are connected to a tension coil spring 22 secured to the front legof the movable couch section.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that the tension of the coil spring22 operating through the links 21 constantly tends to exert a downwardforce upon the roller 17 against the trackway 8. The force exerted bythe spring 22 is preferably sufficiently Vstrong so that it will alsotend to relieve some of the weight of the movable couch frame upon therear leg 4 and raise it sufficiently to keep the roller 18 in engagementwith the fixed trackway 6. In other words, the action of the spring 22constantly tends to urge the rollers 17 and 18 towards each other. Itwill therefore be seen that when the trackway 8 is shifted to raise theend upon which the roller 17 rests the spring 22 urging the rollers 17and 18 together will cause the movable section of the couch to moverelative to the stationary section until the roller 17 has againattained the lower end of the trackway. As shown in Fig. 2, the trackwayhas just been swung and the movable section of the couch is sliding outfrom underneath the stationary section and will obviously continue to doso until the roller 17 has reached the lower end of the trackway whereit will abut against the leg 2 of the stationary section and preventfurther movement.

As has been explained above, through the action of the toggle bars 11,the trackways 8 at each end of the couch are tilted simultaneouslywhenever either one of them is tilted and consequently there will be aforce exerted at each end of the movable section of the couch tending tourge it in the direction desired whenever one of the traekways has beentilted by the operator.

In order to somewhat relieve the shock of the rollers 17 strikingagainst the front leg 2 of the soi stationary section of the couch thesurface of the tiltable trackway 8 may be curved up slightly at its end,as shown at 23.

To permit the complete separation of the stationary and movable sectionsof the couch, a portion of one of the front legs 2 of the stationarysection is cut away to form apertures 24 and 25 through which therollers 17 and 18 may respectively be removed. In order to do this, itis necessary to raise the roller 17 manually sufficiently to allow it topass through the aperture 24. The movable couch frame 2 may then bemoved endwise suinciently to slip the rollers 17 and 18 at the oppositeend of the couch oli` their respective tracks and entirely free themovable section from the stationary section, thus providing two separatecouches.

In the preferred form of the invention, illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5inclusive, and just discussed, although the ends of the trackways 8 havebeen tilted up slightly as shown at 23, they have not been curvedsufficiently to stop Completely the roller 17 and it is necessarytherefore that a portion 2a (see Fig. 5) of the front leg 2 of the staltionary couch section lie in the path of the rollers as they reach thelower end of the track in order to limit the movement of the movablesection.

A slightly modified form of the invention just described is shown inFigs. 6 and 7 in which the end of the tiltable trackway 8 has beencurved up suiiiciently to completely arrest the movement of the rollers17 as they reach the lower end of the trackway, as is shown at 27 inFig. 6. Both of the trackways 8 are provided with this upwardly turnedabutment 27 at the lower ends and in this form of the invention both ofthe forward legs of the stationary section have been notched outsufiiciently so that they in no way impede the progress of the rollers17. The front portion of each of the front legs 2 instead of beingcompletely cut out is bent forwardly to form an upwardly inclined ramp28 adjacent the forward ends of the trackway 8 having its upper endapproximately on the same level as the upper end of the curved portion27 of each trackway 8. Thus, after the movable section of the couch hasbeen advanced to the position shown in Fig. 6, all that is necessary toseparate the two sections is to jerk the movable section outwardlysuilicient to cause the roller 17 to rise over the upturned end 27 ofeach trackway 8 and the two couch sections will be completely separated.When it is desired to reunite the two sections in operative relation itis merely necessary to arrange them side by side and push the movablesection sunciently so that the roller 17 engaging the inclined ramp 28will rise up and over the end 27 of the tiltable trackway. The ramp 28merges at its upper end with the wall of the leg 2 and may beeliminated.

In Figs. 8 to 12 inclusive is shown a modified form of the actuatingmechanism in which the tiltable trackway is provided at only one end ofthe stationary section. The stationary trackway 6 and the tiltabletrackway 8 with its actuating lugs 13 is identical with those justdescribed in connection with the preceding gures. At the opposite end ofthe stationary couch frame, however, the tiltable trackway 8 isdispensed with and the stationary trackway 30 is somewhat modified, theupper surface of the trackway 30 being adapted to receive a roller 31mounted for rotation on a pivot fixed upon one of the rear legs of themovable section of the couch. The trackway 30 is provided at its inneredge with an upstanding flange 32 to guide the roller 31 along thetrackway and inasmuch as the trackway is preferably formed of an anglemember, as illustrated, the upstanding flange of the angle member servesto maintain a guide to prevent the roller 31 from slipping off the outeredge of the trackway 30. The roller 17, mounted in its movable pivot pin16, slidable in the slot 15 in the rear leg of the movable section ofthe couch, has a tension coil spring 33 directly secured to the pivotpin 16 and having its lower end secured to the adjacent lower end of theleg. 'Thus, this coil spring constantly tends to exert a downward forceupon the roller 17 against the trackway 8 and likewise tends to maintainthe roller 16 in engagement with the surface of the trackway 6substantially in the same manner as the spring 22 operating through thefloating levers 19 and 20 produced the same action just described inFigs. 1-5 in connection with the preferred form of this invention. It isobvious that this modified form of the invention might equally well beactuated by a similar arrangement of oating levers. .A pair of rollers35 are mounted for rotation upon a Vertical axis upon the front legs ofthe stationary section of the frame and are adapted for rollingengagement with the end members of the movable section of the frame inorder to preserve a proper alinernent of the two sections duringrelative movement.

In this form of the invention, it will be seen that tilting of thetrackway 8 by means of the actuating lugs 13a the end of the couch framewill urge the movable couch frame outwardly and the roller 13 riding onthe trackivay 30 will be moved outwardly also due to the fact that theilanges on the track 3D and the rollers 35 maintain the two sections inproper alinement.

It is obvious also that if it should be desired to provide this form ofthe invention with satisfactory means for completely separating the twocouch sections, it will only be necessary to provide suitable aperturesin the front faces of the legs of the stationary section to permit theremoval of the various rollers and it will be seen that this form of theinvention is subject to the various means for permitting the removal ofthe movable section described in connection with the preceding figures.

It is quite clear from the foregoing, that in all the forms of theinvention illustrated in the drawings and described above that when thetwo sections of the couch are completely telescoped as shown in Fig. 3,all that is necessary to extend them is to depress the actuating lug 13and the movable section will automatically slide out from under thestationary section to form'a bed having the surface area substantiallytwice that of the couch when the two sections are telescoped one withinthe other. Likewise, when it is desired to retract the movable section,depressing of the actuating lug 13 at the opposite end of the trackwaywill cause the movable section to return to the position shown in Fig.3.

What I claim is:

1. An extensible couch frame comprising a movable section and astationary section in telescoping relation, said stationary sectionhaving ends each comprising a pair of legs and a stationary trackwaysupported by said legs, a tiltable trackway carried by one of the endsof said stationary section, a xed roller carried by the movable sectionof said couch frame and adapted for engagement with said stationarytrackway,

and a movably mounted roller also carried by said movable section,spring means yieldingly urging said movably mounted roller intoengagement with said tiltable trackvvay, said rollers and trackivayscooperating, when said tiltabletrackvfay is shifted, to cause movementof said movable section relatively to said stationary section, andoperating means located adjacent one leg of the stationary section forcausing tilting of said tiltable trackway.

2. An extensible couch frame comprising a movable section and astationary section in telescoping relation, said stationary sectionhaving ends each comprising a pair of legs and a stationary trackwaysupported by said legs, a tiltable trackway carried by one of the endsof said stationary section, a xed roller carried by the movable sectionof said couch frame and adapted for engagement with said stationarytrackway, a movably mounted roller also carried by said movable sectionadapted for engagement with said tiltable trackway, and means constantlyforcing said movable roller into engagement with said tiltable trackway,said rollers and track- Ways cooperating, when said tiltable trackway isshifted, to cause relative movement of said movable section and saidstationary section, and means for tilting said tiltable trackway locatedadjacent one of the legs of the stationary section.

3. An extensible couch frame comprising a movable section and astationary section in telescoping relation, said stationary sectionhaving ends each comprising a pair of legs and a stationary trackwaysupported by said legs, a tiltable trackxvay carried by one of the endsof said stationary section, a xed roller carried by the movable sectionof said couch frame and adapted for engagement with said stationarytrackway, a movably mounted roller also carried by said movable sectionadapted for engagement with said tiltable trackway and means constantlyforcing said movable roller into engagement with said tiltable trackway,said rollers and trackways cooperating, When said tiltable trackway isshifted, to cause relative movement of said movable section and saidstationary section, guide means carried by said stationary sectionserving to guide said movable section during movement, and meansadjacent one leg of the stationary section for causing tilting of saidtiltable trackway.

4. An extensible couch frame comprising a movable section and astationary section in telescoping relation, said stationary sectionhaving ends each comprising a pair of legs and a frame memberintermediate said legs, a tiltable track- Way pivotally mounted on saidframe member to swing substantially in the piane of said legs, a rollermovably mounted on said movable section, means yieldingly urging saidroller downwardly into engagement With said trackivay, whereby, whensaid trackway is swung on its pivot, said roller tendsv to run towardthe lower end thereof and to -move said movable section relative to saidstationary section, and operating means located adjacent the end of saidstationary section for swinging said trackv/ay on its pivot.

5. An extensible couch frame comprising a movable section and astationary section in telescoping relation, said stationary sectionhaving ends each comprising a pair of legs, a supporting memberintermediate said legs, a tiltable track- Way pivotally mounted on saidsupporting member to swing substantially in the plane of said legs intoan inclined position, a roller mounted for vertical movement on saidmovable section and adapted to engage said trackway, a spring constantlyurging said roller against said track- Way, whereby said roller tends totravel along said inclined trackway in a direction to lessen the tensionon said spring, and to thus move the movable section horizontallyrelative to said stationary section, means for preventing relativevertical movement of said sections, and operating means forswinging saidtrackway on its pivot.

CLARK HAMRICK TURNER..

